Light variations of massive stars ( Cygni variables) *
XVII. The LMC supergiants R 74 (LBV), R 78, HD 34664 = S 22 (B[e]/LBV), R 84 and R 116 (LBV?)
A.M. van Genderen 1 and
C. Sterken ** 2
Received 21 April 1999 / Accepted 3 June 1999
Multi-colour photometry (Walraven system) of five super- and hypergiants in the LMC, viz. R 74, R 78, HD 34664, R 84 and R 116, is searched for variability and periods, and discussed. Apart from R 84, of which the claimed variability in the past must be due to a number of faint field stars at the edge of the apertures, all are variable.
R 74 and HD 34664 are weak-active LBVs with superimposed microvariations. HD 34664 is the second known B[e] star which is also an LBV. The first reported one is R 4 in the SMC. This could alter some views on the evolutionary history of B[e] stars and LBVs.
R 78 is an Cyg variable, but presumably no LBV. R 116 appears to be a close counterpart of the galactic ex-/dormant LBV Sco, also showing an intricate Cyg-type multi-period microvariability.
Key words: stars: individual: R 116 = HDE 269700; R 74 = HDE 268939; R 78 = HDE 269050; R 84 = HDE 269227; S 22 = HD 34664 galaxies: Magellanic Clouds
Send offprint requests to: A.M. van Genderen
© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1999
Online publication: September 2, 1999